The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-12-22
A PROSPEROUS CHlNAMAN.
How Wing Lee Became American In
Name ~ Wen 49, In Interests.


Nlcctown is proud OF n Chinese laundryman
who quotes Shakespeare aud has bank ac-
count, says The PhHdddphd Press.
His name s Wing Lee, Americana lied into
Paul Clinton. lie came TO this country twenty
one years ago when but T. years old. His
brother, who was an cnterprising, intelligent
man, opened butcher-shop in San Francisco,
and sent little Wing to II public school in
Oakland "Thcrc was some bad boys there
said Paul yesterday as he stroked his little
stubby mustachc in reminiscent sort of way,
but / got through all the same, as well as In
Sacramento, where | went some few months.
Them was hard days
After working for his brother and others for
a few years, Paul. who had cultivated an ac-
quaintance with some four hundred coolies
engaged in a sugar factory Those were
good times, be said. 81 got 500 month.
Expenses were high, but ! savcd-Oh don't
know how much-a big pile anyway
At the end OF five years hc had accumulated
enough to open large Chinese and japanese
bazaar, well stocked with articles that would
have a ready sale among the heterogeneous
masses that formed the population of San
Francisco and vicinity Furtune smiled on
him still and before long he had Snug bal
ance slowed away and was doing an excellent
business. Thinking that In the eliete east he
might make fortune more speedily, Paul
sold out and came on to Brooklyn with several
thousand dollars in his possession aud started
in the bazaar business again.
As soon as he was established he began to
look around for wife, and married buXom
Irish girl. She soon displayed an insatiate
desire to travel Paul, like duiful husband,
sold out again. aud the two started south.
1--WE Travelled and travelled" said Mr.. Clinton,
mcekly, until we got near Cuba, when the
money began to run out. She didn't mind
spending 1t. Then we started back. When we
got to Brooklyn nearly all our money was
gone. Soon she was gone, too and
the memory of those days affected
him so much that Paul carefully wiped
away with a handkerchief small tear
that glistened in one corner Of his almond eye.
When the reporter asked him whether he
didn't want her back again, Paul shook his
head mournfuly, saying; "No, no, too
'spensive; cost too much'
From BROOKLYN he came TO Philadelphia, and
several months ago opened his first laundry
on Germantown avenue above Hunting Park
avenue. Wing Lee has acted as Interpreter in
number Of eases for Cinnamon who have
fallen into trouble. So well known Is he among
his couutrymen that he was sent Tor To 20 out
troubles there. The distance deferred him,
but he has acted In the courts OF Virginia,
West Virginia, and other nearby states on
several occasions. In addition 10 his other
accomplishments he can quote extracts from
Shakespeare 1t is said that at sometime in
the past he attended theater where one OF
the great bard's tragedies was being played
Several striking sentences chung to his mem
DRY, and he astonshed some Of his friends by
repeating them Since then he has added
other select quotations TO his literary store.
Wing Lee is now engrcssed IN the puriuit
of wealth aud is striving TO get ON The royal
road by inventing liquid starch. lie has no
desire to return to his native land. Most Of
us want to go back, said he, "but don't.
don't remember much about China. This Is
my country. Friends want me 10 get 'protec-
tiOn papers Maybe Will some day